Battersea searches for politicians’ top cat in Purr Minister competition

Clawing their way to the top: Battersea searches for politicians' top cat in Purr Minister competition

Feline friends of the nation's politicians have their hopes set on high office this year, dreaming of a landslide victory in Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's hotly contested Purr Minister 2015 contest to find Westminster's top cat of the year.

When it comes to our politicians' cats aspiring to take Battersea's Purr Ministerial crown, there are no safe seats, as the candidates get ready to battle it out, sharpening their claws and polishing their whiskers.

Cat lovers across the UK have from 9am on Thursday 15 January to noon on Monday 26 January to vote for their favourite Westminster feline, from a shortlist of cats owned by MPs and Lords. Details on how to vote can be found at battersea.org.uk.

After the intrigue and even scandal of last year's inaugural competition, constituents will be looking for purrfect polling from their candidates and no untoward moves into the ballot box. Proud MPs and Peers around the UK will eagerly wait to see if their beloved cat has canvassed enough votes to climb to the very top. Their pet's 50-word "Manifursto" will spell out why they think they deserve the title of Westminster's top cat.

Last year's winner Kevin, owned by Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson, had a Manifursto highlighting his spectacular 16-year career of eating and sleeping, and he rallied strong support due to his sense of purr-pose. Kevin's owner Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton Central said "I know that my colleagues and I all really appreciate the work that Battersea Dogs & Cats Home does and the Purr Minister election provides a great opportunity to remind people that we're a nation of animal lovers."

Lindsey Quinlan, Battersea's Head of Cattery, adds: "Purr Minister is such fun! Here at Battersea we can't wait to see who will get their claws out in our Westminster top cat competition. There's always one candidate that will toss their tail and wriggle their whiskers, but we hope the MPs and Peers have fun entering their cats and the public backs them by voting."

This year's Purr Minister winner will be announced by Battersea on Wednesday 28 January 2015. No big prizes of course, but oh what a glory!

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For more information and images please contact 020 7627 9291 or email press@battersea.org.uk